Dallas, TX
Fewer Dallas teachers will get bonuses as school turnaround model shifts
Dallas school leaders are overhauling how they support struggling schools in a move that will cut the number of campuses receiving intensive resources and curtail the number of teachers who qualify for bonuses.
The district is moving to a new campus turnaround model, which will limit the number of schools targeted for extra support from more than 80 currently to roughly 50 after the change. Doing so will also shrink the number of educators eligible for salary stipends of up to $12,000.
Two programs – Accelerating Campus Excellence and High Priority Campuses – are sunsetting at the end of next school year, district officials confirmed. Dallas ISD will transition into a three-tiered model that officials are calling the District Support Initiative.
“This initiative will truly prioritize campuses of greatest need,” according to an online DISD statement.
Over the past decade, district leaders have credited the ACE model for several campus turnaround success stories. The program evolved since 2015 but its hallmark – paying great teachers more money to teach at challenging schools – remained in place.
“The whole concept behind ACE was to get our very best teachers in the places they’re needed the most. That idea is very much still alive here. It’s just more focused,” DISD trustee president Joe Carreón said. “Every school can’t be ACE – that defeats the logical purpose of the program.”
This year, roughly one-third of DISD campuses were included in either the Accelerating Campus Excellence program or designated High Priority Campuses. Both models involve teacher stipends, though ACE bonuses are generally larger.
The new initiative will target only about 20% of Dallas’ 233 campuses.
Low-performing elementary schools, many of which in high-poverty communities, will be the main focus, according to district documents.
Nine of those low-performing elementary schools will receive the highest level of support next year. These campuses will get funding for two literacy specialists and one math expert. Students will have access to expanded afterschool sessions, a mentoring book club, a home library program and more.
Highly effective teachers who work at these campuses, meanwhile, will be eligible for stipends between $4,000 and $12,000.
Thirty elementary and middle schools will get a second-tier of support, while 10 high schools were chosen for staffing help – including stipends for some teachers.
Right now, educators at more than 80 campuses are eligible for these kinds of bonuses.
Of those, 48 schools were not chosen for the District Support Initiative next year. Teachers at these campuses will instead receive a “bridge year stipend,” valued at half of their previous amount.
That money will end in the 2026-27 school year, with bonuses only continuing for the campuses that are part of the new model.
DISD turnaround schools
Dallas ISD’s signature turnaround program, launched in 2015, centered on flooding a small number of struggling schools with extra time, money and some of the best teachers in the district.
Officials persuaded effective educators to work in ACE schools by offering them large bonuses intended to compensate for the extra work.
It relied on a districtwide pay-for-performance evaluation system to define which educators were the “best.” That model led to a statewide merit pay push and lawmakers are now funneling millions of dollars a year toward such stipends.
The ACE program also inspired similar models in other districts.
But questions quickly emerged about the ACE’s sustainability. It was intensive – and expensive – to pour so much into a small cohort of campuses, though it generated many positive results.
One elementary, Annie Webb Blanton, improved enough to beat the results of a campus in affluent Highland Park in 2018.
However, once money and programming was pulled back, some schools reverted.
For example, Dade Middle School received passing grades during its three turnaround years. But immediately after losing resources, the school earned a D in state academic accountability ratings.
“When ACE stipends are largely eliminated, a substantial fraction of highly effective teachers leaves, and test scores fall,” a 2023 study of the program found.
ACE saw several iterations. Then, a few years after it launched, the district designated dozens of additional schools as High Priority Campuses to allow a broader array of schools to get extra resources and attention.
Now, DISD leaders are evolving the model again.
“This has been something under careful consideration,” DISD spokeswoman Robyn Harris said. “We are retooling to once again really support our most fragile and critical schools.”
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Ron and Phyllis Steinhart, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
The Dallas Cowboys were initially in the mix for Las Vegas Raiders superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby ahead of NFL free agency, and were believed to be one of the finalists in trade talks. However, he was ultimately traded to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round picks.
Now, the NFL world has been turned on its head with the Ravens deciding to pull out of the trade agreement with Las Vegas.
On Tuesday night, NFL insider Adam Schefter was among the experts discussing what went wrong between the Raiders and Ravens, revealing that Cowboys team physician Dr. Daniel Cooper, one of the premier knee specialists, played a role in the Ravens’ evaluation of Crosby.
Schefter discussed how Dr. Cooper was among the doctors who reviewed scans on Crosby’s knee, which ultimately spooked the Ravens and triggered the end of the deal.
“The Baltimore Ravens essentially failed him on their physical, and my understanding is there were multiple doctors that reviewed his MRI scans,” Schefter said. “There were doctors that examined him, including Dr. Daniel Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys doctor that performed surgery on Patrick Mahomes and Malik Nabers.
“Many teams and players rely on Dr. Cooper’s expertise, and Dr. Cooper was one of the doctors who reviewed the images where the Ravens then felt compelled to back out of this trade.”
It’s hard not to connect the dots that Dr. Cooper’s involvement in the medical review of Crosby led to the team deciding against re-engaging in trade discussions. Though that could change, currently, the Cowboys are expected to move forward with Pro Bowl EDGE Rashan Gary, who the team agreed to acquire from the Green Bay Packers for a 2027 fourth-round pick on the first day of legal tampering.
It will be interesting to continue monitoring the situation and its fallout, which has left the Raiders in a terrible position.
But, with the Raiders now forced to re-examine the money they committed to free agents on Wednesday evening, they may have to pull out of one of their own agreements, which could open the door for the Cowboys to reopen their pursuit of a linebacker like Nakobe Dean or Quay Walker.
The 2026 NFL calendar year officially begins on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET, so get your popcorn ready, because it’s going to be a wild ride.
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Dallas Cowboys Nation’s hopes of landing superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby were dashed last weekend when it was announced that he was being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. However, less than 24 hours before the new year, the trade has fallen apart.
On Tuesday night, the Las Vegas Raiders announced that the Ravens have backed out of the trade.
“The Baltimore Ravens have backed out of our trade agreement for Maxx Crosby,” the statement read. “We will have no further comment at this time.”
The news sends a major ripple for the league, with the Crosby sweepstakes once again open. Before his trade to the Ravens, the Cowboys were considered one of the teams closely monitoring the situation and a team that made a legitimate offer for Crosby.
At this time, there is no word on why the trade between Las Vegas and Baltimore fell through. When the trade was first reported, the Raiders were set to receive a 2026 and 2027 first-round pick from the Ravens.
Now, his future is in limbo. Before he was traded to the Ravens, it was believed that the Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Rams were the top candidates to land him. In fact, the Cowboys were “considered runner-ups” in the sweepstakes.
Dallas’ Original Trade Offer
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys initially offered the No. 12 overall pick in the 2026 draft, a 2027 second-round pick, and an unnamed veteran player.
“Dallas kept a hard line throughout. The franchise wasn’t willing to part with two first-round picks, hoping its 12th pick in April’s draft, plus a future second-rounder, would be enough to entice Las Vegas. Dallas was also willing to package a veteran player to sweeten the deal, but Vegas wasn’t interested in that. The Raiders prioritized picks,” Fowler wrote.
Last season, Crosby recorded 73 total tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 20 quarterback hits, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.
We’ll have to see if Dallas ends up being his new home, now that the team has a second chance to make something special happen, but there will be some serious competition. The 2026 NFL calendar year officially begins on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. ET.
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DALLAS – Severe thunderstorms are forecast to return to North Texas late Tuesday, bringing threats of damaging hail, high winds and localized flooding. While the primary concerns are wind and hail, a few tornadoes cannot be ruled out.
Tuesday Forecast
Dallas weather: Mar. 10 morning forecast
We have another chance of severe storms starting Tuesday afternoon. Meteorologist Ali Turiano has your forecast and everything you need to know ahead of the storms.
Scattered showers and storms are expected to develop as a dryline to the west moves into the region. Storm conditions are expected to intensify as the day progresses.
The greatest concerns remain damaging winds and large hail. The leading edge of the storm front will likely be the most intense, with the potential for straight-line winds and brief spin-up tornadoes.
LIVE Radar: Dallas-Fort Worth
Dallas Storms: Timing and Impact
The highest potential for severe weather in the Metroplex is from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., though lingering activity could continue until 2 a.m. Wednesday. Residents are advised to seek shelter immediately if a warning is issued for their area.
7-Day Forecast
A final round of storms is expected Wednesday, primarily between noon and 7 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. These storms carry a threat of half-dollar-sized hail and damaging winds.
Behind this system, North Texas will dry out and briefly cool off. Sunny skies return Thursday with a high in the mid-60s. Temperatures will then warm into the upper 70s on Friday before a sunny weekend with highs in the low 80s.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the National Weather Service and FOX 4 forecasters.
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